August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel & Sardonyx Guide
Summary
Peridot: The most recognizable August birthstone, known for its vibrant green color and available in Sheiban Jewelers’ fine jewelry selection.
Spinel: A colorful, durable alternative available in shades ranging from vivid reds and pinks to blues and purples.
Sardonyx: The original August birthstone, distinguished by its warm reddish-brown, orange, and white banding.
Custom Options: For those drawn to Spinel or Sardonyx, Sheiban Jewelers can source the gemstone and create a custom piece around your preferred style.
Table of contents
The Ultimate Guide to August Birthstones: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx
Most months of the year claim just one signature gemstone. August breaks the rules. If you’re lucky enough to celebrate a late summer birthday, you can choose between three official August birthstones: Peridot, Spinel, and Sardonyx. Each of these gems carries its own unique history, distinct color palette, and special meaning. Because birthstone jewelry is always about celebrating your personal stories and milestones, having three options to choose from when selecting a special piece makes the entire process much more fun.
At Sheiban Jewelers, our team is dedicated to helping people find a piece of gemstone jewelry that truly reflects their personality. Peridot takes center stage as the gemstone most commonly featured in fine jewelry today, but Spinel and Sardonyx both offer fascinating alternatives for anyone looking for something a bit different. Whether you want to add a vibrant green pop of color to your daily ensemble, or you prefer to design a custom piece around a rare historical stone, this guide will talk you through everything you need to know about these late-summer gems. You may even decide to choose one of each.
Why Does August Have Three Birthstones?
You might be wondering why August gets a trio of gems while other months only have one. The answer comes down to history, availability, and changing tastes over time. Thousands of years ago, Sardonyx stood as the original August birthstone, being a widely popular choice in the ancient world for intricate carvings and protective amulets. As centuries passed, however, Peridot grew in popularity, its rich green hue becoming the choice for Gem enthusiasts and royalty alike. Eventually, it was adopted as the primary choice for the month, quickly becoming the undisputed favorite for August birthstone jewelry.
Fast forward to 2016, and we see a new introduction. The American Gem Trade Association officially added the Spinel gemstone to the mix, giving modern jewelry lovers another highly durable, colorful option that possessed genuine historical significance. Today, the three stones offer a perfect balance for late-summer birthdays. Sardonyx appeals to lovers of earthy, vintage designs, Spinel to those who want vibrant reds, pinks, and blues mixed with incredible scratch resistance, and Peridot for those seeking a radiant green classic. Because Sheiban Jewelers specializes in both curated collections and custom designs, you can explore all three paths to find the one that feels right for you.
Peridot: The Glowing Gem of the Sun
Peridot is usually the first gem that comes to mind when people think of August birthdays. It’s also the stone you’ll see most frequently showcased within our collections here at Sheiban Jewelers. Known for its striking yellowish-green to deep olive colors, it’s one of the few gemstones in the world that only exists in one color. The intensity of the green depends entirely on how much iron is present within the crystal structure, the most prized color being the glossy, grassy green without any hints of brown or yellow.
The story of this stone is completely unique compared to that of other popular jewels, as most gemstones form deep within the Earth's crust. Still, Peridot is born in extreme conditions much deeper down, the vast majority forming inside the Earth's mantle and only rising to the surface during violent volcanic eruptions. You can even find it shimmering in green in the sands on certain beaches in Hawaii. Local native legends say these small green stones are the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess. Even more incredibly, some rare crystals have arrived on Earth by hitching a ride inside pallasite meteorites from outer space. The oldest recorded source for this gem is a tiny Egyptian island in the Red Sea called Zabargad, where mining began over two thousand years ago, and though considered dangerous for its harsh conditions, it produced the most beautiful green crystals.
Ancient Egyptians affectionately called Peridot the "gem of the sun", believing it physically absorbed the sun's rays and used that trapped light for protection at night. During the Middle Ages, European Crusaders were captivated by the stone's beauty, and brought these huge green gems back from their travels to decorate the religious sites of Europe.
When looking at durability, Peridot scores a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it strong enough for daily wear, but it still requires a little bit of care. Because it’s slightly softer than diamonds or sapphires, we recommend setting it into pendants, necklaces, and earrings that won’t come into contact with hard surfaces. If you want a ring, a protective setting like a bezel is a great idea to keep the edges perfectly safe.
Spinel: The Master of Royal Disguise
For centuries, Spinel was famously mistaken for other precious gemstones, since it often forms in the exact same rock formations as rubies and sapphires. Some of the most famous and culturally significant "rubies" in history are actually red Spinel, like the massive Black Prince's Ruby set directly into the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom. King Henry V even wore this exact stone on his battle helmet during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, whereas the "Timur Ruby" is a massive 352-carat red gem owned by Queen Victoria.
Unlike its green counterpart, this stone comes in a massive variety of colors. You can find it in intense fiery reds, cobalt blues, bright pinks, vibrant purples, and even sleek blacks. The name likely comes from the Latin word “spina”, which translates to arrow or thorn, nodding to the sharp, pointed shape of the crystals when they’re first pulled from the earth. The red shades are incredibly popular, but the rich cobalt blue varieties are exceptionally rare and highly valued, making this stone an incredibly versatile option for August birthstone jewelry.
The meaning of the August birthstone Spinel focuses on revitalization and stamina. Crystal experts view it as a stone of hope and energy, thought to help people recover from stress and physically recharge. One of its biggest advantages is its toughness, ranking at a solid 8 on the Mohs hardness scale. It’s also exceptionally durable and highly resistant to scratches, making it perfect for a ring you plan to wear every single day.
Spinel also features a high refractive index, which means it has a beautiful, glass-like luster that catches the light brilliantly. With a piece of Spinel, you get a high-end sparkle that rivals much more expensive stones. If you want a piece of Spinel jewelry, our custom design team here at Sheiban Jewelers can source the exact color, shape, and cut you desire and build a one-of-a-kind ring or necklace that highlights this rare, historically significant stone.
Sardonyx: The Original August Stone
Long before the other two stones became associated with the end of summer, Sardonyx was the undisputed choice for the month; its history stretches back over 4,000 years. It’s a type of chalcedony that forms in flat, parallel layers of earthy red, brownish-orange, and crisp white. Unlike standard agate, which features chaotic or swirling color bands, Sardonyx features perfectly straight, stacked layers, which gemstone carvers have always loved working with. Carvers would carefully cut away the dark layers to reveal the bright white layers underneath using a difficult, highly skilled technique that allowed them to create portraits. Roman soldiers frequently marched into battle wearing thick rings carved with images of Mars, the god of war, directly into the stone, believing Sardonyx would grant them bravery and protection. During the Renaissance, Queen Elizabeth I famously gave a gold ring set with Sardonyx to the Earl of Essex as a token of her friendship.
In modern times, the August birthstone’s meaning is to strengthen, stabilize, and promote clear communication. It’s considered an anchoring stone that helps balance intense emotions and sparks creative focus, making it a thoughtful gift for someone entering a new chapter in their life. Sardonyx also falls at a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, its opaque, earthy appearance giving it a very different vibe compared to the sparkling transparency of the other two August stones. Design experts at Sheiban Jewelers can help you source a high-quality cabochon to build an heirloom piece around, using its unique composition and tone to create something personal and sentimental to you.
Styling and Metal Pairings: How to Wear August Birthstones
Selecting the right stone is only the first step because choosing a metal finish determines how it will actually look and feel against the skin. You’ll be pleased to know that at Sheiban Jewelers, you can explore every possible option.
For Peridot, yellow gold is a fantastic pairing because the warmth of the yellow metal enhances the gemstone’s golden undertones beautifully. Alternatively, setting it in white gold or platinum creates a sharp, modern contrast. For something more unusual, opt for rose gold. It pairs wonderfully with lighter, grass-green stones. The Spinel gemstone offers endless possibilities, too. It comes in so many colors, making it a playful and romantic choice when surrounded by a halo of diamonds and any precious metal finish. When it comes to Sardonyx, the style rules shift toward the bold and traditional. Its earthy reds and oranges look best in heavy yellow gold settings. It also shines in vintage-style bezels, thick signet rings, or large pendant necklaces, giving it an authentic antique feel.
How to Choose Your Perfect August Birthstone
With three very different options, choosing the right August birthstone comes down to your personal style and how you plan to wear your jewelry. Here’s a quick way to narrow it down:
- Choose Peridot if you love vibrant green color, classic fine jewelry, and a gemstone with a distinctly bright, summery look.
- Choose Spinel if you want more color options, greater durability for frequent wear, and a gemstone that feels a little less expected.
- Choose Sardonyx if you’re drawn to vintage styling, bold patterns, warm earthy tones, and jewelry with an antique-inspired character.
Discover August Birthstone Jewelry at Sheiban Jewelers
From volcanic origins to royal history and ancient symbolism, the three August birthstones each have a story of their own. Explore our selection of Peridot jewelry at Sheiban Jewelers, or work with our custom design team to source Spinel or Sardonyx and create a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your personal style.
Can August birthstones be combined with diamonds?
Yes. Diamonds can complement all three August birthstones and are an easy way to add contrast and brilliance to a design. They can be used as side stones, accents, or a halo around the center gemstone.
Can an August birthstone be added to an existing piece of jewelry?
Depending on the design and condition of the piece, it may be possible to incorporate a birthstone into jewelry you already own. This can be especially meaningful when updating an heirloom or creating a piece that represents another family member.
Can I use multiple family birthstones in one piece of jewelry?
Yes. A custom design can incorporate several different birthstones to represent children, grandchildren, partners, or other family members. The stones can be arranged based on color, significance, or simply what creates the strongest overall design.
Can Sheiban Jewelers recreate or redesign an older birthstone piece?
Depending on the existing jewelry, our team can help explore options for redesigning an older piece into something that better fits your current style. Existing gemstones may also be incorporated into a new custom design when appropriate.
Sheiban Jewelers
Sheiban Jewelers is a fifth-generation, family-owned jeweler serving the Cleveland area. With more than a century of family expertise in fine jewelry and craftsmanship, Sheiban specializes in fine jewelry, luxury timepieces, custom design, and expert jewelry services.